Toowoomba Water Bird Habitat

Nestled into suburban Toowoomba at Rangeville, the habitat covers 7.6 hectares (19 acres), which is quite a small area to establish as a diverse wetland. Environmental diversity is essential if the habitat is to attract a variety of waterbirds. There are deep and shallow lakes, areas of reeds, mud-banks, islands and grassy areas to provide feeding, roosting and nesting conditions required by different birds.

To complete this habitat, over 2000 shrubs and trees were planted to attract native birds. All of the plants are Australian species appropriate to the locality. The plantings on the perimeter help screen the habitat from the surrounding roads and houses, creating a peaceful atmosphere within.

Waterbird habitats are characteristically places of light and open spaces, so large areas of grassland have been retained. You can see birds such as maned duck and straw-necked ibis which feed mainly on these grasslands.

For many years, Ravensbourne National Park was a traditional stop over for Aboriginal people on their way to and from bunya festivals in the Bunya Mountains. Today, visitors come to admire rainforest remnants, majestic Sydney blue gums and more than 80 bird species, including green catbirds and vulnerable black-breasted button-quail.

Weeping bottlebrush, river she-oak and forest red gum line watercourses while dry vine scrubs grow in sheltered gullies where soil and moisture accumulate at Crows Nest Falls, a prominent feature of Crows Nest National Park, located about a half-hour drive from Toowoomba.

Nestled into suburban Toowoomba at Rangeville, the habitat covers 7.6 hectares (19 acres), which is quite a small area to establish as a diverse wetland. Environmental diversity is essential if the habitat is to attract a variety of waterbirds.

Discover spectacular scenery, granite outcrops, a scenic waterfall and eucalypt forest remnants on the edge of the Great Dividing Range.
Nestled amongst eucalypt forest, bloodwood and stringybark trees lies Crows Nest Falls, about six kilometres east of Crows Nest and 56-kilometres north of Toowoomba.

Crowning the edge of the Great Dividing Range 90 minutes west of Brisbane is Southern Queensland Country's largest town of Toowoomba. Perched 700 metres above sea level and overlooking the Lockyer Valley the 'Garden City' is home to over 150 public parks, making the idyllic picnic setting under the shade of a jacaranda or camphor laurel tree.

Take a quiet side-track from the Warrego highway or New England Highway to find the hamlet of Goombungee, 35 kilometres north-west of Toowoomba. You'll find the streets are lined with jacarandas and silky oaks - providing a spectacular display in late spring.

Acland is a small rural town located north of Oakey, on the Darling Downs west of Brisbane.
Acland is best know for its coal mine and had a population of between 200 to 400 residents before the mine was shut down in 1984 - at that time it was Queensland's oldest and smallest continuously worked coal mine.

Kulpi is a small rural community about an hour's drive though beautiful country north west from Toowoomba, via Oakey. Cattle and grain properties figure most prominently.
The town of Kulpi was part of a selection made by Fred Beckmann from the Rosalie Plains pastoral run.

Pechey is a picturesque hamlet located near Crows Nest. The Town offers overnight camping grounds and the Listening Ridge Farmstay.
While you're there have a yarn to the friendly locals, who will be happy to share stories about the town.

Just a short drive north of Toowoomba along the New England Highway is Highfields, a flourishing community with much to offer visitors.
The Highfields Pioneer Historical Village is an attraction with rare and unusual collections of vintage machinery.